We gathered together in a big cluster on the back side of the teacher's parking lot. In less than 3 minutes the school buses would come around the circle and pass our group.
This is tradition.
On the last day of school we wave goodbye.
We stood there in our blue and gold shirts and blue jeans. If exhaustion were a garment, we were wearing that too.
There were veteran teachers that had felt this "last day" feeling many times. There were the first year teachers that wore the shock of a year suddenly done. Then the rest of us mixed in.
We are a hoot. Such a fun mixed bag of personalities.
Most of our faces held big grins. Laughter came easy in our crowd and hugs were the norm.
As the buses started pulling around and honking we did what teachers do.
We began waving like idiots.
We yelled our goodbyes and even blew some kisses into the air.
One after the next the buses rolled by.
Students pressed into the bus seats nearest to us to wave and yell back.
Tears jumped to my eyes.
I looked around and I was not alone.
Other teachers were crying too.
It's a funny thing~ this profession.
We do it because we love it.
We get our students in August and immediately we get to work learning them so we can teach them.
Teachers are typically pretty great learners.
By the time those students wave goodbye to us in May we know so many things about them: their learning style, their friends, their hobbies, their seating preference, the music they listen to, their crushes, their challenges, their strengths, inside jokes, nicknames, favorite snacks and personal style.
We know their moods and their jokes and their sarcasm.
We know which students will fall asleep and which ones will catch on quickly to our content.
We know which students will ask to go to the bathroom in every single class and which ones we can trust to heat up our coffee:)
We know who will try to sneak a grab at our phones so they can put selfies on our camera rolls and which students prefer no limelight at all.
We spend 180 days learning these kids so we can adequately teach them.
And then we wave goodbye.
Don't get me wrong....we are so exhausted. The kids are too.
But saying goodbye just stinks.
All that effort. Done.
The chapter is closed.
A teacher's goodbye is given with the grace for those students to go forward and the hope that some thing we gave them will last.
GOODBYE Class of 2025!!
This teacher is better because of you!!
"Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor..
Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed."
Proverbs 3:13-18
